Tool actuating mechanism



Nov. 7, 1967' J. G. HAGERBORG TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM Original FiledAug. 10, 1962 GSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN G. HAGERBORG BY $4M mm 5%9pm 9% @Sm 33m ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 J. G. HAGERBORG TOOL ACTUATINGMECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1962 mmw EN EN m Eowmfm A 33 A Nm 9% 3m miJm on P.

IllllmmN INVENTOR JOHN G. HAGERBORG ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 J. G.HAGERBORG 3,350,837

TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 10, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3L2 Li T-I|3 q INVENTOR JOHN G. HAGERBORG BY w ATTORNEY J. G. HAGERBORGTOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM lss Nov. 7, 1967 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1962INVENTOR JOHN G. HAGERBORG ATTORNE Y Nov. 7, 1967 J. G. HAGERBORG3,350,337 TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 10, 1962 6Sheets-Sheet .5

I88 St 11 73 m I 73 52b I82 LZ/ I84 I57 we :7: 52 :73 we 53 INVENTORJOHN G. HAGERBORG BYJMWV ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 J. G. HAGERBORG 3,350,837

TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 10, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet (:3

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F'Il3 lEI INVENTOR JOHN G. HAGERBORG BY LU. W

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,350,837 TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM John G.Hagerborg, St. Niklaas-Waas, Belgium, assignor to FMC Corporation, SanJose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application Aug. 10,1962, Ser. No. 216,248, now Patent No. 3,248,841, dated May 3, 1965.Divided and this application Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,729

2 Claims. (Cl. 53-77) ABSTRACT (IF THE DISCLOSURE A horizontallyelongate tool carrier is vertically reciprocated by a single ram toposition any array of tools supported by the carrier adjacent workpieceson a subjacent conveyor. The carrier has racks which are engaged bypinions on a fixed rotatable shaft to assure equal movement of both endsof the carrier, and has guide members slidable in fixed guide blocks toassure linear movement of the carrier. Means are provided fordeactivating the ram if the tools are reciprocated thereby less than apredetermined distance.

This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No.216,248, which application was filed on Aug. 10, 1962, and is now US.Patent No. 3,248,841.

The present invention pertains to packaging equipment and moreparticularly relates to an actuating mechanism for accurately moving atool into and out of registration with a container intermittentlyregistered therewith.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tool actuatingmechanism capable of accurately aligning and moving a tool into or outof registration with a carton being processed.

Another object is to provide a tool actuating mechanism capable ofmaintaining a plurality of widely spaced tools in exact alignment withcartons positioned therebelow.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a persepective of a carton forming and filling machine ofwhich the tool actuating mechanism of the present invention is a part,the view being taken looking at the elongated left side and therelatively narrow rear end of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the right side of the cartonforming and filling machine, certain protective housing being removed.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic plan of the machine of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the machine ofFIGURE 2,taken looking in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE2 showing the tool actuating mechanism of the present inventionassociated with the sterilizing apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a plan of the tool actuating mechanism of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation with parts broken away of the toolactuating mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating that portion of thehydraulic system used for the tool actuating mechanism of thesterilizing apparatus.

FIGURE 9 is a central section through one of several four-way hydraulicvalves used in the hydraulic system.

FIGURE 10 is a central section through one of the speed control valvesin the hydraulic system.

FIGURE 11 is a chart illustrating the timing of the hydraulic power unitused in the hydraulic system of the sterilizing apparatus.

General description Although the carton forming and filling machine 50(FIGS. 1 to 4) with which the tool actuating mechanism 48 (FIGS. 5-7) isassociated Will be shown and described as a machine for packaging milkin half gallon cartons C, it will be understood that it is within thescope of the present invention to fill other liquids into either halfgallon or other size cartons. Because of the numerous operationsperformed on the cartons as they pass through the machine, the differentsections of the machine at which successive operations on the carton arecarried out will be identified as consecutively numbered stations St. 1through St. 18.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated embodiment of the machine hastwo processing lines L1 and L2, each of which processes cartons at therate of twenty cartons per minute. In the description to follow, whenparts as sociated with the lines LI and L2 are identical, only thoseparts associated with one of the lines will be described in detail. Itis to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention toprovide as many lines as needed to achieve the desired rate ofdischarge.

The carton forming and filling machine 5!) has two main sections: acarton erecting section which is disposed at the front or left hand endof the machine (FIGS. 2 and 3) and includes stations St. 1St. 8, and acarton filling and closed section which includes stations St. E-St. 18.In general, between stations St. 1 and St. 8 a carton is erected andplaced on a turret 51 and its bottom is closed and sealed. In the cartonfilling and closing section, a conveyor assembly 52 is mounted on aframe 53 and includes two endless chain, carton supporting conveyors 52aand 52b (FIG. 3) which advance the cartons along the lines L1 and L2,respectively. A magazine 54 at station 1 is mounted on the frame 53 andis arranged to receive a stack of tubular carton blanks 56 (FIG. 5) inflat folded form. In the magazine, the blanks are held in uprightposition extending transversely of the magazine with the end of theblank, which forms the top of the carton when it is erected, disposedlowermost in the magazine. The magazine 54 includes means for urging thecarton blanks 56 rearwardly in the machine toward a carton erecting andturret loading apparatus 57 (FIG. 2) at station 2. This erecting andloading apparatus 57 removes one carton blank at a time from themagazine, for each line, squares each carton blank into an open endedrectangular tube, and moves each of the squared tubular carton blanksdownwardly at station 3 over one of six carton forming mandrels 58 inthe associated processing line which are carried by and are evenlyspaced around the turret 51.

The turret 51 and conveyors 52a and 5212 are intermittently driven by adrive mechanism 59 which is timed so as to require approximatelysix-tenths of a second for each increment of movement and to allow eachcarton to remain at each station for approximately two and four-tenthsseconds. As shown in FIG. 2, intermittent indexing of the turret 51advances the cartons alongan arcuate counterclockwise path from station3 to station 8 during which time operations are performed on the bottomof the cartons, and intermittent movement of the conveyors 52a and 52badvances the cartons along a linear path from station 9 to station 18during which time operations are performed on or are associated with thetops of the cartons. It will be understood that the drive mechanism 59drives the turret 51 so that each indexing motion of drive 59 advanceseach mandrel 58 from one station to the next, however, each indexingmotion only advances the conveyors 52a and 52b in half- 3 stationincrements and therefore cartons on conveyors 52a and 52b will come torest between stations.

When a carton is positioned at station 4, a bottom forming apparatus 62is actuated to force a bottom forming die 63 against the lower end flapsof the carton thereby causing the end fiaps to bend at their score linesas shown in FIG. 8A. At station 5, a bottom heating apparatus 64 (FIG.2) is placed into operation and directs hot air at only those surfacesof the bottom flaps which will subsequently be sealed together by abottom sealing apparatus 66 (FIG. 4) at station 6. The carton with itsbottom flaps sealed together at station 6 is then moved past station 7(FIG. 2) which is a vacant station, and into station 8 at which timehigh pressure air is directed against the interior face of the bottomwall of the carton through the associated mandrel 58 to eject the cartonfrom the mandrel.

The ejected carton C is guided by a carton transfer and turningmechanism 68 which moves the carton from the inverted to an uprightposition while at the same time turning the carton 90 about itslongitudinal axis. The so-turned carton is received at station 9 betweentwo adjacent drive lugs 69 of the associated conveyors 52a and 52b.

While at station 10, a top forming apparatus 71 moves a top forming head72 downwardly against the upper flaps of the carton to bend these fiapsalong the score lines so that the upper end of the carton assumes theposition shown in FIG. 9A. The carton is then indexed to Station 11where a sterilizing apparatus 73 moves an ultraviolet light 74 into thecarton to thoroughly sterilize the interior of the carton. After thecarton has been sterilized, it is moved to station 12.5 where a cartonfilling apparatus 76 fills the carton with milk. The filled carton isthen moved to station 14 under a top sizing apparatus 77 which operatesto bend additional portions of the top closure into the proper positionfor heating.

The carton is then moved by the associated conveyor 52a or 52b intostation 14.5 where a top heating apparatus 78 lowers a heating head '79over the top flaps of the carton, which head 79 is formed so as todirect hot air only at those surfaces of the top flaps which are to bepressed together to seal the top of the carton. After the top flapsurfaces have been properly heated, the associated conveyor indexes thecarton to station where a top sealing apparatus 82 forces the heatedsurfaces of the flaps together to seal the top of the carton.

The conveyor then advances the filled carton to station 16, which is avacant station where sample cartons may be removed from the conveyor fortesting if desired. When the carton is moved to station 17, a topstamping apparatus 83 impresses suitable identifying indicia thereon.The filled, sealed, and marked carton is finally advanced to station 18where it is moved laterally off the conveyor by a discharge apparatus 84onto one of two high speed discharge conveyors 86 which are parallel toconveyors 52a and 52b and discharges the carton from the carton formingand filling machine 50 of the present invention.

Turret and conveyor drive mechanism.As mentioned previously, the turret51 and conveyors 52a and 52b are driven intermittently, each movement ofthe turret moving a carton from one station to the next, while eachindexing movement of the conveyors advances cartons thereon onlyone-half the normal distance between the stations along the conveyors.The length of each indexing movement of the conveyors will be referredto hereinafter as a half-station increment. The drive mechanism 59(FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) is so timed that approximately six-tenths of a secondis required for each intermittent movement, and the cartons remain ineach station or between stations along conveyors 52a and 52b, forapproximately two and one half seconds.

The drive mechanism 59 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) comprises a drive motor DMwhich is connected to a gear reducer 92 by a belt drive 93. The motor DMis mounted on a plate 94 (FIG. 4) which is pivoted at its rearward endon a pair of stubshafts 95 projecting from a fixed bracket 100, and hasits forward end supported for vertical adjustment by a bolt 96 which ispivoted to the motor plate 94 and extends through a horizontal plateportion of the bracket and is locked in adjustable position by nuts 98.One output shaft (not shown) of the gear reducer 92 is coupled to aFerguson drive 99 which drives its output shaft 101 intermittently.

The output shaft 101 is coupled to the turret shaft 51a by a coupling102. The coupling 102 comprises identical axially aligned sprockets 103and 104 which are keyed to the shafts 51a and 101, respectively, andhave a double chain 106 trained therearound. A connector 107 is used toclamp the ends of the chain 106 together, with the chain fitted firmlyaround the sprockets 103 and 104.

The conveyors 52a and 52b are accurately timed with the turret and arepartially driven directly from the turret 51 by a gear which is keyed tothe shaft 51a.

The gear 110 meshes with a first idler gear 108 which, in turn, mesheswith a second idler gear 109. The idler gears 108 and 109 are journalledon stub shafts 111 and 112, respectively, which are secured to the frame53 of the machine. The second idler gear 109 meshes with a conveyordrive gear 113 which is keyed to a conveyor drive shaft 114. The shaft114 (FIG. 2) is journalled on the frame 53. Thus, the conveyors 52a and52b are intermittently driven to the right (FIGS. 2 and 3) in timedrelation with the movement of the turret 51.

The tool actuating mechanism 48 of the present invention is used atstations St. 10, St. 11, St. 14 and St. 14.5 to control the movement ofthe processing tools at the associated stations into registration withthe cartons disposed therebelow. Since the tool actuating mechanisms atthe several processing stations mentioned immediately above aresubstantially the same, only the tool actuating mechanism 48 at thesterilizing station will be described in detail.

Slerilizing apparatus.After being preformed at station 10, the cartonsin lines L1 and L2 are indexed at station 11 at which station theinteriors of the cartons are sterilized by the ultra-violet lights 74(FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) of the sterilizing apparatus 73.

The sterilizing apparatus 73 comprises a support structure whichincludes a pair of pedestals 156 and 157 having a bridge plate 153extending between and bolted to the upper ends of the pedestals. Thelower ends of the pedestals 156 and 157 are bolted to the vertical sideplates of the frame 53. A hydraulic power unit 159 of the tool actuatingmechanism 48 of the present invention has its cylinder 161 bolted to thebridge plate 158 with its piston rod 162 projecting downward through ahole in the bridge plate. The piston rod 62 is connected by nuts 163 toa horizontal mounting plate 164 of a carrier 166 which carrier includesa pair of upstanding arms 17 and 168 to which racks 169 and 171 (FIG.6), respectively, are secured. The arms 167 and 163 are bolted to theends of the plate 164, project through openings in the bridge plate 158,and have elongated keys 172 and 173 bolted thereto. The carrier 166 isguided for vertical movement by verti-- cally slotted slide blocks 174and 176 which are bolted to the bridge plate 158 and are slidablyengaged by the keys 172 and 173, respectively.

In order to maintain the mounting plate 164 of the carrier 166horizontal, a stabilizing shaft 179 having pinions 181 and 182 keyedthereon is journalled in bearings 183 and 184 that are bolted to thebridge plate 158. The pinions 181 and 182 mesh with the racks 169 and171, respectively, and assure that the ends of the plate 164 move equaldistances during movement of the carrier 166.

A pair of the ultraviolet lights 74 are inserted into each cartonindexed at station 11 upon downward movement of the carrier 166 and aremoved to within approximately one-half inch of the bottom of the carton.The ultraviolet lights '74 are bolted to the carrier 166 and areconnected to a high voltage source of electricity through leads whichare disposed within conduits 186. A photoelectric burn-out detector 187is electrically connected with each pair of lights 74 and is positionedto scan the associated pair of ultraviolet lights 74. In the event alight should break or burn out, the associated photoelectric burn-outdetector 187 opens the circuit to the drive motor DM (FIG. 2) therebystopping the machine 50.

A normally closed limit switch 183 is mounted on a bracket 189 bolted tothe bridge plate 158 and includes an actuating arm 191 positioned toengage a pin 192 projecting outwardly from the arm 168 when the carrier166 is in its uppermost position and the ultraviolet lights 74 are abovethe path of movement of the cartons. Opening of the limit switch 188permits the energization of the drive motor DM and movement of theconveyors 52a and 52b to the next indexed position. If the switch is notopened upon termination of upward movement of the carrier 166,indicating that the bottom of the ultraviolet lights 74 lie in the pathof movement of the cartons, a circuit is closed which preventsenergization of the motor DM.

During normal operation, the lights 74 are on at all times, beingshielded from the operators eyes when in the elevated position by asheet metal closure 193 (FIG. 1) and being shielded from the operatorseyes when in the lower position by the walls of the carton.

In the operation of the sterilizing apparatus '73 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) thehydraulic power cylinder 159 is actuated to move the pairs ofultraviolet lights 74 downward and into the associated carton Ctherebelow immediately after these cartons have been indexed at station11. The high intensity ultraviolet lights completely sterilize theinterior of the associated cartons and are then withdrawn from thecartons. The sterilized cartons are then moved away from station 11 andnew cartons are moved into station 11 at which time the cycle ofoperation is repeated.

The conveyors 52a and 52b are intermittently driven at a constant rateunless one of the ultraviolet lights 74 is broken or burned out in whichcase the associated photoelectric detector 187 opens the circuit to thedrive motor DM (FIG. 2) thereby stopping the conveyors 52a and 52b. Theconveyors are also stopped in the event the carrier 166 is not raised toa position wherein the switch 188 is opened indicating that the lights74 are positioned above the path of movement of the cartons.

The hydraulic circuit which controls the operation of the sterilizingapparatus 73 will now be described in detail.

Hydraulic system.-The hydraulic power cylinder 159 is incorporated in ahydraulic system HS (FIG. 8). The actuation of the hydraulic cylinder159 is timed relative to the intermittent movement of conveyors 52a and52b (FIGS. 2 and 3) by a timing cam TC7 which operates a four-wayhydraulic valve V7. The rate of movement of the piston rod 162 of thepower cylinder 159 is controlled during extension and retraction by twospeed control valves CV, one valve being placed in each conduitconnected to the associated ends of the power cylinder 159 to permitfree entry of the hydraulic fluid into the cylinder to restrict to apredetermined rate the discharge of fluid therefrom.

As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8, the hydraulic system HScomprises a hydraulic pump 202 which is continuously driven by a motorHM. The pump 202 receives fluid from a sump 204 and discharges highpressure fluid through a manifold 206. The low pressure fluid isreturned to the sump 204 from the power cylinder through a manifold 207.Both the high pressure manifold 206 and the low pressure manifold 207extend the full length of the machine so that the valve V7 can easily beconnected thereto by high pressure conduits 208 and return conduits 209,respectively. A plurality of oil heaters 6 0H are provided in the sump204 and are controlled so as to maintain the temperature of thehydraulic fluid between F. to F.

As diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 9, the valve V7 includes ahousing 211 having a shiftable core 212 therein. A spring 213 disposedbetween the core and the housing normally urges a cam follower 214journalled on one end of the core against the associated timing cam TC7.The associated high pressure conduit 208 and return conduit 209, areconnected to ports 216 and 217, respectively, in the housing 211. Theport 216 communicates either with a straight line passage 218 extendingcentrally through the core 212, or with a slanted or cross passage 221which extends along the periphery of the cylindrical core. Similarly,the port 217 communicates either with a straight passage 219 or with aslanted pas sage 222 that is formed in the periphery of the core 212 onthe opposite side of the core from the peripheral passage 221. With thisarrangement the hydraulic fluid can be selectively directed to dischargeport 223 or 224 in the housing 211. It will be understood that eachpassage 218, 219, 221 and 222 are independent passages and do notcommunicate with each other.

The several speed control valves CV (FIG. 10) are identical inconstruction and accordingly the description of one will suffice forall. Each speed control valve CV (FIG. 10) comprises a housing 227having a straight line passage 228 therethrough. An enlarged portion 229of the passage 228 has a ball check valve 231 therein which restsagainst a seat 232 to prevent flow of fluid downwardly (FIG. 10) throughthe passage 228 but permits unrestricted flow upwardly (FIG. 10) throughthe passage 228. A U-shaped control passage 233 in the housing 227bypasses the ball valve 231 and communicates with opposite ends of thestraight line passage 228. An adjustable needle valve 234 cooperateswith a frusto-conical seat 236 in the control passage to restrictdownward (FIG. 10) flow of fluid therethrough to thereby control therate of travel of the piston of the associated power cylinder. It willbe understood that the needle valve 234 of each speed control valve CVwill be adjusted so as to achieve the desired rate of travel of thepiston 162 of the associated power cylinder 159. It will also beunderstood that the speed control valves CV are all positioned so thatthe upper port 237, rather than the lower port, is connected to theassociated power cylinder.

In order to accurately time the operation of the sterilizing apparatus73 with the turret 51 and conveyors 52a and 5212, the timing cam TC7 iskeyed to a cam shaft 238 (FIGS. 1-4) which extends the full length ofthe machine. A second output shaft 268 (FIG. 4) of the previ-' ouslydescribed gear reducer 92 has a sprocket 269 keyed thereon which isconnected to a driven sprocket 270 (FIG. 2) by a chain 271. The drivensprocket 270 is keyed on an idler shaft 272 which is journalled in abracket 273 bolted to the frame 53. A large diameter cam shaft drivesprocket 274 is keyed to the idler shaft 272. A chain 276 (FIG. 4) istrained around the large diameter sprocket 274, around a sprocket 277keyed to the cam shaft 238, and around an idler sprocket 279 that isjournalled on a shaft 280 secured to the frame 53. The cam shaft 238extends the full length of the machine 50' (FIG. 2) and is journalled inspaced brackets 281 secured to the frame 53. The timing cam TC7, as wellas a plurality of similar timing cams, are secured at spaced intervalsalong the cam shaft 238. The cam TC7 controls the actuation of the powerunit 159 of the sterilizing apparatus 73.

The control of the hydraulic power cylinder 159 at station 11 will nowbe described in detail having reference to FIGURES 8 and 11.

In regard to the chart shown in FIGURE 11, it will be understood thatthe darkened area indicates the time required for the piston rod 162 ofthe associated piston to move from the extended to the retractedpositions or from the retracted to the extended positions and that thepressure Wlll be applied to the same side of the piston in a dwellperiod after movement is completed until the associated cam TC7 shiftsthe valve V7 to its other position. The lines marked S.V. correspond tothe sloping portions of the associated cam TC7 which shifts the valve V7between the cross-passage position and the straight passage position.The time required for the valve V7 to shift from one position to theother will not be included in the description to follow but, as shown inFIGURE 12, each shifting of the valve requires approximately 0.1 second.In the description to follow, it will be understood that the termcross-passage position indicates the position at which the passages 221and 222 register with the conduits 208 and 209, and the term straightpassage position indicates the position in which the passages 218 and219 register with the conduits 208 and 209.

As indicated at the top of FIGURE 11, the conveyor and turret indexingoperation takes place in the first 0.6 second of the three secondoperating cycle, and the remaining time is utilized for performing thesterilizing operation while a carton is indexed at station 11 inposition to be sterilized.

At station 11 the piston rod 162 is moved downwardly out of the cylinder159 to move the sterilizing lights down into the cartons and is thenretracted upwardly. The cylinder 195 at station 11 is connected to thevalve V7 by conduits 286 and 287 having speed control valves CV therein.The piston rod 162 in cylinder 159 is held in the retracted position forapproximately 0.6 second after the start of a cycle of operation by thecam TC7 which holds the valve V7 in the cross-passage position. The camTC7 then shifts the valve V7 to the straight line position and the speedcontrol valve CV and the conduit 286 controls the flow rate so that thepiston rod 162 is moved to its extended position in approximately 1.25seconds. The piston rod is maintained in this position for approximately0.25 second and thereafter the cam TC7 returns the valve V7 to thecross-passage position. The speed control valve CV in the conduit 287then restricts the rate of movement of the piston rod so that the pistonrod reaches its retraced position in 0.5 second. The piston rod 162 ismaintained in this position until the cycle is completed.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the tool actuatingmechanism of the present invention is adapted to reciprocate anelongated tool carrier and to assure that both ends thereof move equalamounts. Thus, the tool actuating mechanism assures a smooth, accuratereciprocal movement of the tools and eliminates all tendencies of oneend of the elongated carrier to move greater distances than the otherend of the carrier which would result in binding and improperregistration of the associated tool with the associated carton.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown asdescribed, it will be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

The present invention and manner in which the same is to be used havingthus been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be protectedby Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for forming, filling and closing a carton thecombination of a pair of widely spaced pedestals, a bridge plate securedto the upper end of said pedestals and extending therebetween, a pair ofspaced slide blocks each having a vertical slot therein secured to saidbridge plate, a centrally positioned hydraulic cylinder secured to saidbridge plate, said cylinder having a piston rod projecting below saidbridge plate, an elongate tool carrier connected to said piston rod, apair of arms secured to opposite ends of said carrier with each armbeing positioned closely adjacent an associated one of said slideblocks, a key secured to each arm and slidably received in theassociated slide block, a rack secured to each of said arms, a shaftsupported for rotation by said bridge plate and extending transverselyof said racks, and a pair of pinions keyed to said shaft with eachpinion in engagement with an associated one of said racks to assureequal movement of both ends of said carrier upon actuation of saidhydraulic cylinder.

2. A tool actuating mechanism comprising support means, a hydraulicallyoperated ram carried by said support means and having a projectingreciprocable piston rod, a tool carrier connected to said piston rod, apair of arms secured to said carrier, a follower secured to each arm, aguide slidably receiving each follower and secured to said supportmeans, a rack secured to each of said arms, a shaft supported forrotation by said support means and extending transversely of said racks,a pinion engaged with each rack and keyed to said shaft, a conveyordisposed below said tool carrier for supporting a plurality of cartons,power means for intermittently driving said conveyor to index successivecartons below said tool carrier, a tool carried by said tool carrier,means operatively associated with said ram and said power means forcausing said ram to reciprocate said tool a predetermined distancerelative to a carton indexed therewith, means for controlling theoperating speed of said ram, and means for deactivating said power meansin the event said tool is reciprocated a distance less than saidpredetermined distance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1918 Hawkins 7429 X 4/1960Smith 5328

2. A TOOL ACTUATING MECHANISM COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS, A HYDRAULICALLYOPERATED RAM CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A PROJECTINGRECIPROCABLE PISTON ROD, A TOOL CARRIER CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ROD, APAIR OF ARMS SECURED TO SAID CARRIER, A FOLLOWER SECURED TO EACH ARM, AGUIDE SLIDABLY RECEIVING EACH FOLLOWER AND SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTEMANS, A RACK SECURED TO EACH OF SAID ARMS, A SHAFT SUPPORTED FORROTATION BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID RACKS,A PINION ENGAGED WITH EACH RACK AND KEYED TO SAID SHAFT, A CONVEYORDISPOSED BELOW SAID TOOL CARRIER FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF CARTONS,POWER MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING SAID CONVEYOR TO INDEX SUCCESSIVECARTONS BELOW SAID TOOL CARRIER, A TOOL CARRIED BY SAID TOOL CARRIER,MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED SAID RAM AND SAID POWER MEANS FOR CAUSINGSAID RAM TO RECIPROCATE SAID TOOL A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE RELATIVE TO ACARTON INDEXED THEREWITH, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATING SPEED OFSAID RAM, AND MEANS FOR DEACTIVATING SAID POWER MEANS IN THE EVENT SAIDTOOL IS RECIPROCATED A DISTANCE LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE.